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Wang X, Tong J, Liang C, Wang X, Ma Y, Tao S, Liu M, Wang Y, Liu J, Yan S, Gao G, Wu X, Huang K, Cao Y, Tao F. Trimester-specific effects of maternal exposure to single and mixed metals on cord serum inflammatory cytokines levels: A prospective birth cohort study. Sci Total Environ 2023; 895:165086. [PMID: 37379910 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cord blood inflammatory cytokines are vital in early-life programming. An increasing number of studies concern the effect of maternal exposure to different metal elements during pregnancy on inflammatory cytokines, but limited studies have explored the association between maternal exposure to mixed metals and cord blood inflammatory cytokine levels. METHODS We measured serum concentrations of vanadium (V), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and barium (Ba) in the first, second, and third trimesters and eight cord serum inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, and TNF-α) in 1436 mother-child dyads from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort. Generalized linear models and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were performed to assess the association of single and mixed metal exposure during each trimester with cord serum inflammatory cytokine levels, respectively. RESULTS Regarding metal exposure in the first trimester, V was positively associated with TNF-α (β = 0.33, 95 % CI: 0.13, 0.53); Cu was positively associated with IL-8 (β = 0.23, 95 % CI: 0.07, 0.39); Ba was positively associated with IFN-γ and IL-6; As was negatively associated with IFN-γ and IL-17A; and Cd was negatively associated with IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-17A, and TNF-α. BKMR revealed that exposure to metal mixtures in the first trimester was positively associated with IL-8 and TNF-α but negatively associated with IL-17A. Moreover, V contributed the most to these associations. Interaction effects were observed between Cd and As and between Cd and Cu with IL-8, and between Cd and V with IL-17A. Among males, As decreased inflammatory cytokines; among females, Cu increased inflammatory cytokine levels, whereas Cd decreased inflammatory cytokine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Maternal exposure to metal mixtures in the first trimester interfered with cord serum inflammatory cytokine levels. The associations of maternal exposure to As, Cu and Cd with inflammatory cytokines showed sex differences. Further studies are warranted to support the findings and explore the mechanism of the susceptibility window and sex-specific disparity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Juan Tong
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Chunmei Liang
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xueqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yufan Ma
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Shuman Tao
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Shuangqin Yan
- Ma'anshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Ma'anshan 243011, Anhui, China
| | - Guopeng Gao
- Ma'anshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Ma'anshan 243011, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University; Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
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2
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Zheng K, Zeng Z, Tian Q, Huang J, Zhong Q, Huo X. Epidemiological evidence for the effect of environmental heavy metal exposure on the immune system in children. Sci Total Environ 2023; 868:161691. [PMID: 36669659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals exist widely in daily life, and exposure to heavy metals caused by environmental pollution has become a serious public health problem worldwide. Due to children's age-specific behavioral characteristics and imperfect physical function, the adverse health effects of heavy metals on children are much higher than in adults. Studies have found that heavy metal exposure is associated with low immune function in children. Although there are reviews describing the evidence for the adverse effects of heavy metal exposure on the immune system in children, the summary of evidence from epidemiological studies involving the level of immune molecules is not comprehensive. Therefore, this review summarizes the current epidemiological study on the effect of heavy metal exposure on childhood immune function from multiple perspectives, emphasizing its risks to the health of children's immune systems. It focuses on the effects of six heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn)) on children's innate immune cells, lymphocytes and their subpopulations, cytokines, total and specific immunoglobulins, and explores the immunotoxicological effects of heavy metals. The review finds that exposure to heavy metals, particularly Pb, Cd, As, and Hg, not only reduced lymphocyte numbers and suppressed adaptive immune responses in children, but also altered the innate immune response to impair the body's ability to fight pathogens. Epidemiological evidence suggests that heavy metal exposure alters cytokine levels and is associated with the development of inflammatory responses in children. Pb, As, and Hg exposure was associated with vaccination failure and decreased antibody titers, and increased risk of immune-related diseases in children by altering specific immunoglobulin levels. Cd, Ni and Mn showed activation effects on the immune response to childhood vaccination. Exposure age, sex, nutritional status, and co-exposure may influence the effects of heavy metals on immune function in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyang Zheng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijun Zeng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
| | - Qianwen Tian
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Jintao Huang
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Qi Zhong
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xia Huo
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China.
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Yang Y, Shen Y, Lin J, Dai S, Lu X, Xun G, Li Y, Wu R, Xia K, Luo X, Zhao J, Ou J. Association between history of miscarriage and autism spectrum disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:687-697. [PMID: 36251093 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01494-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
This case-control study was designed to examine the association between different types of miscarriage history and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and determine whether the number of miscarriage history affects the risk of ASD. All of 2274 children with ASD and 1086 healthy controls were recruited. Sociodemographic and prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal characteristics were compared between the two groups. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to investigate association between miscarriage history and ASD. Stratified analyses based on sex and types of miscarriages were similarly performed. History of miscarriage was potential risk factors for ASD ([aOR] = 2.919; 95% [CI] = 2.327-3.517). Stratified analyses revealed that induced ([aOR] = 2.763, 95% [CI] = 2.259-3.379) and spontaneous miscarriage history ([aOR] = 3.341, 95% [CI] = 1.939-4.820) were associated with high risk of ASD, respectively. A sex-biased ratio in the risk of ASD was observed between females ([aOR] = 3.049, 95% [CI] = 2.153-4.137) and males ([aOR] = 2.538, 95% [CI] = 1.978-3.251). Stratified analysis of induced miscarriage history revealed that only iatrogenic miscarriage history was associated with an increased risk ASD ([aOR] = 2.843, 95% [CI] = 1.534-4.268). Also, multiple spontaneous miscarriage histories ([aOR] = 1.836, 95% [CI] = 1.252-2.693) were associated with higher autism risk than one spontaneous miscarriages history ([aOR] = 3.016, 95% [CI] = 1.894-4.174). In conclusion, miscarriage history is related to an increased risk for ASD in offspring, which is affected by the types of miscarriage and sex of the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Yidong Shen
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Jingjing Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Si Dai
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaozi Lu
- Qingdao Mental Health Center, Qingdao, 266034, Shandong, China
| | - Guanglei Xun
- Shandong Mental Health Center, 49 East Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Yamin Li
- Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Renrong Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Kun Xia
- Center for Medical Genetics and School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Xuerong Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Jingping Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Jianjun Ou
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China.
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4
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Singh RD, Tiwari R, Sharma V, Khan H, Gangopadhyay S, Singh S, Koshta K, Shukla S, Arjaria N, Mandrah K, Jagdale PR, Patnaik S, Roy SK, Singh D, Giri AK, Srivastava V. Prenatal arsenic exposure induces immunometabolic alteration and renal injury in rats. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 9:1045692. [PMID: 36714129 PMCID: PMC9874122 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1045692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Arsenic (As) exposure is progressively associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a leading public health concern present worldwide. The adverse effect of As exposure on the kidneys of people living in As endemic areas have not been extensively studied. Furthermore, the impact of only prenatal exposure to As on the progression of CKD also has not been fully characterized. In the present study, we examined the effect of prenatal exposure to low doses of As 0.04 and 0.4 mg/kg body weight (0.04 and 0.4 ppm, respectively) on the progression of CKD in male offspring using a Wistar rat model. Interestingly, only prenatal As exposure was sufficient to elevate the expression of profibrotic (TGF-β1) and proinflammatory (IL-1α, MIP-2α, RANTES, and TNF-α) cytokines at 2-day, 12- and 38-week time points in the exposed progeny. Further, alteration in adipogenic factors (ghrelin, leptin, and glucagon) was also observed in 12- and 38-week old male offspring prenatally exposed to As. An altered level of these factors coincides with impaired glucose metabolism and homeostasis accompanied by progressive kidney damage. We observed a significant increase in the deposition of extracellular matrix components and glomerular and tubular damage in the kidneys of 38-week-old male offspring prenatally exposed to As. Furthermore, the overexpression of TGF-β1 in kidneys corresponds with hypermethylation of the TGF-β1 gene-body, indicating a possible involvement of prenatal As exposure-driven epigenetic modulations of TGF-β1 expression. Our study provides evidence that prenatal As exposure to males can adversely affect the immunometabolism of offspring which can promote kidney damage later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha Dutt Singh
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India,Radha Dutt Singh, ,
| | - Ratnakar Tiwari
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vineeta Sharma
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India,Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Hafizurrahman Khan
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Siddhartha Gangopadhyay
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Sukhveer Singh
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Kavita Koshta
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Shagun Shukla
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nidhi Arjaria
- Advanced Imaging Facility, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kapil Mandrah
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India,Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Pankaj Ramji Jagdale
- Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Satyakam Patnaik
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India,Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Somendu Kumar Roy
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India,Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Dhirendra Singh
- Regulatory Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Giri
- Molecular and Human Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Vikas Srivastava
- Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, New Delhi, India,*Correspondence: Vikas Srivastava, ,
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5
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Karachaliou C, Sgourou A, Kakkos S, Kalavrouziotis I. Arsenic exposure promotes the emergence of cardiovascular diseases. Rev Environ Health 2022; 37:467-486. [PMID: 34253004 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A large number of studies conducted in the past decade 2010-2020 refer to the impact of arsenic (As) exposure on cardiovascular risk factors. The arsenic effect on humans is complex and mainly depends on the varying individual susceptibilities, its numerous toxic expressions and the variation in arsenic metabolism between individuals. In this review we present relevant data from studies which document the association of arsenic exposure with various biomarkers, the effect of several genome polymorphisms on arsenic methylation and the underling molecular mechanisms influencing the cardiovascular pathology. The corresponding results provide strong evidence that high and moderate-high As intake induce oxidative stress, inflammation and vessel endothelial dysfunction that are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and in particular hypertension, myocardial infarction, carotid intima-media thickness and stroke, ventricular arrhythmias and peripheral arterial disease. In addition, As exposure during pregnancy implies risks for blood pressure abnormalities among infants and increased mortality rates from acute myocardial infarction during early adulthood. Low water As concentrations are associated with increased systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure, coronary heart disease and incident stroke. For very low As concentrations the relevant studies are few. They predict a risk for myocardial infarction, stroke and ischemic stroke and incident CVD, but they are not in agreement regarding the risk magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana Karachaliou
- School of Science and Technology, Lab. of Sustainable Waste Technology Management, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece
| | - Argyro Sgourou
- School of Science and Technology, Biology Lab, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece
| | - Stavros Kakkos
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Medical School of Patras, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kalavrouziotis
- School of Science and Technology, Lab. of Sustainable Waste Technology Management, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece
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Yim G, Reynaga L, Nunez V, Howe CG, Romano ME, Chen Y, Karagas MR, Toledo-Corral C, Farzan SF. Perinatal Metal and Metalloid Exposures and Offspring Cardiovascular Health Risk. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:714-34. [PMID: 35980568 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00377-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Toxic metal exposures have been associated with cardiovascular disease in adults and growing evidence suggests metal exposures also adversely affect cardiovascular phenotypes in childhood and adolescence. However, to our knowledge, the influence of perinatal metals exposure, particularly metal mixtures, in relation to cardiovascular-related outcomes have not been comprehensively reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS We summarized 17 contemporary studies (2017-2021) that investigated the impact of perinatal metal exposures on measures of cardiovascular health in children. Accumulating evidence supports a potential adverse impact of perinatal Pb exposure on BP in children. Fewer recent studies have focused on perinatal As, Hg, and Cd; thus, the cardiovascular impacts of these metals are less clear. Studies of metal mixtures demonstrate that interactions between metals may be complex and have identified numerous understudied elements and essential metals, including Mo, Co, Ni, Se, Zn, and Mn, which may influence cardiovascular risk. A key question that remains is whether perinatal metals exposure influences cardiovascular health into adulthood. Comparisons across studies remain challenging due to several factors, including differences in the timing of exposure/outcome assessments and exposure biomarkers, as well as variability in exposure levels and mixture compositions across populations. Future studies longitudinally investigating trajectories of cardiovascular outcomes could help determine the influence of perinatal metals exposure on long-term effects of clinical relevance in later life and whether interventions, which reduce metals exposures during this key developmental window, could alter disease development.
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Kim C, Cathey AL, Watkins DJ, Mukherjee B, Rosario-pabón ZY, Vélez-vega CM, Alshawabkeh AN, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Maternal blood metal concentrations are associated with C-reactive protein and cell adhesion molecules among pregnant women in Puerto Rico. Environ Epidemiol 2022; 6:e214. [PMID: 35975168 PMCID: PMC9374188 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have revealed a link between aberrant levels of maternal C-reactive protein (CRP) and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) with adverse birth outcomes. Some epidemiologic studies have indicated that long-term metal exposures can modulate the levels of CRP and CAMs, but the associations between prenatal metal exposures and the levels of CRP and CAMs have yet to be studied more extensively. In this study, we assessed associations between maternal blood metal levels and CRP/CAMs among 617 pregnant women in the Puerto Rico PROTECT birth cohort.
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8
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Taylor VF, Karagas MR. Exposure to arsenolipids and inorganic arsenic from marine-sourced dietary supplements. Chemosphere 2022; 296:133930. [PMID: 35182530 PMCID: PMC9007862 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Dietary supplements sourced from marine environments, such as fish oils and seaweed-based supplements, are widely consumed to boost nutrient intakes, including by vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. Like other marine foods, these supplements are also a potential source of exposure to arsenic, including the known toxic species, inorganic arsenic, and the cytotoxic, lipid-soluble arsenic compounds, arsenic hydrocarbons. A study of 32 marine-sourced supplements found higher total arsenic concentrations (>1000 ng g-1) in supplements made from seaweed, krill and calanus oil, and in fish and fish liver products marketed as "unprocessed". Inorganic arsenic was only detectable in the seaweed samples, and was elevated (8900 ng g-1) in one product. Arsenic hydrocarbons were not detected in krill oil samples but were present at concentrations from 169 to 2048 ng g-1 in "unprocessed" fish and fish liver oil, and calanus oil. Survey data from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS) found 13.5% of pregnant women (n = 1997) reported taking fish oil supplements; and of those, most did so daily (75.6%, 6 or more times per week). Only a small percentage (9%) of those who reported consuming fish oil used products associated with higher arsenic levels. Higher urinary arsenic concentrations were found among women who consumed fish oil compared with those who did not, and specifically higher arsenobetaine and dimethyl arsenic concentrations. Dietary supplements are becoming common components of modern diets, and some marine-sourced dietary supplements are a source of inorganic arsenic and arsenic hydrocarbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien F Taylor
- Department of Earth Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
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Farzan SF, Eunus HM, Haque SE, Sarwar G, Hasan AR, Wu F, Islam T, Ahmed A, Shahriar M, Jasmine F, Kibriya MG, Parvez F, Karagas MR, Chen Y, Ahsan H. Arsenic exposure from drinking water and endothelial dysfunction in Bangladeshi adolescents. Environ Res 2022; 208:112697. [PMID: 35007543 PMCID: PMC8917065 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with ∼80% of CVD-related deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Growing evidence suggests that chronic arsenic exposure may contribute to CVD through its effect on endothelial function in adults. However, few studies have examined the influence of arsenic exposure on cardiovascular health in children and adolescents. To examine arsenic's relation to preclinical markers of endothelial dysfunction, we enrolled 200 adolescent children (ages 15-19 years; median 17) of adult participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS), in Araihazar, Bangladesh. Participants' arsenic exposure was determined by recall of lifetime well usage for drinking water. As part of HEALS, wells were color-coded to indicate arsenic level (<10 μg/L, 10-50 μg/L, >50 μg/L). Endothelial function was measured by recording fingertip arterial pulsatile volume change and reactive hyperemia index (RHI) score, an independent CVD risk factor, was calculated from these measurements. In linear regression models adjusted for participant's sex, age, education, maternal education, land ownership and body weight, individuals who reported always drinking water from wells with >50 μg/L arsenic had a 11.75% lower level of RHI (95% CI: -21.26, -1.09, p = 0.03), as compared to participants who drank exclusively from wells with ≤50 μg/L arsenic. Sex-stratified analyses suggest that these associations were stronger in female participants. As compared to individuals who drank exclusively from wells with ≤50 μg/L arsenic, the use of wells with >50 μg/L arsenic was associated with 14.36% lower RHI (95% CI: -25.69, -1.29, p = 0.03) in females, as compared to 5.35% lower RHI (95% CI: -22.28, 15.37, p = 0.58) in males for the same comparison. Our results suggest that chronic arsenic exposure may be related to endothelial dysfunction in adolescents, especially among females. Further work is needed to confirm these findings and examine whether these changes may increase risk of later adverse cardiovascular health events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | - Fen Wu
- Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Mohammad Shahriar
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Farzana Jasmine
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Muhammad G Kibriya
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Faruque Parvez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Habibul Ahsan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Farzan SF, Howe CG, Chavez TA, Hodes TL, Johnston JE, Habre R, Dunton G, Bastain TM, Breton CV. Demographic predictors of urinary arsenic in a low-income predominantly Hispanic pregnancy cohort in Los Angeles. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2021; 31:94-107. [PMID: 32719440 PMCID: PMC7796897 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-0251-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arsenic (As) is a contaminant of top public health concern, due to its range of detrimental health effects. Arsenic exposure has not been well-characterized among the US Hispanic populations and has been particularly understudied in this population during pregnancy. METHODS As part of the MADRES ongoing pregnancy cohort of predominantly lower-income, Hispanic women in Los Angeles, CA, we examined levels of maternal first trimester urinary As, including total As and As metabolites (inorganic (iAs), monomethylated (MMA) and dimethylated As (DMA)), in relation to participant demographics, lifestyle characteristics, and rice/seafood consumption, to identify factors that may influence As exposure and its metabolites during pregnancy (N = 241). RESULTS Total As concentrations ranged from low to high (0.8-506.2 μg/L, mean: 9.0 μg/L, SD: 32.9) in our study population. Foreign-born Hispanic women had 8.6% higher %DMA (95% CI: 3.3%, 13.9%) and -7.7% lower %iAs (95% CI: -12.6%, -2.9%) than non-Hispanic women. A similar trend was observed for US-born Hispanic women. In addition, maternal age was associated with 0.4% higher %iAs (95% CI: 0.1%, 0.6%) and 0.4% lower %DMA (95% CI: -0.7%, -0.1%) per year, which may indicate poor As methylation capacity. CONCLUSION Individual factors may predict As exposure and metabolism in pregnancy, and in turn, greater risk of adverse health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA.
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Thomas A Chavez
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Tahlia L Hodes
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Jill E Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Rima Habre
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Genevieve Dunton
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Theresa M Bastain
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Carrie V Breton
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
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Boyles AL, Beverly BE, Fenton SE, Jackson CL, Jukic AMZ, Sutherland VL, Baird DD, Collman GW, Dixon D, Ferguson KK, Hall JE, Martin EM, Schug TT, White AJ, Chandler KJ. Environmental Factors Involved in Maternal Morbidity and Mortality. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2021; 30:245-252. [PMID: 33211615 PMCID: PMC7891208 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nongenetic, environmental factors contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality through chemical exposures via air, water, soil, food, and consumer products. Pregnancy represents a particularly sensitive window of susceptibility during which physiological changes to every major organ system increase sensitivity to chemicals that can impact a woman's long-term health. Nonchemical stressors, such as low socioeconomic status, may exacerbate the effects of chemical exposures on maternal health. Racial/ethnic minorities are exposed disproportionately to both chemicals and nonchemical stressors, which likely contribute to the observed health disparities for maternal morbidities and mortality. Epidemiological studies linking exposures to adverse maternal health outcomes underscore the importance of environmental health impacts, and mechanistic studies in model systems reveal how chemicals perturb biological pathways and processes. Environmental stressors are associated with a variety of immediate maternal health impacts, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, fibroids, and infertility, as well as long-term maternal health impacts, such as higher risk of breast cancer and metabolic disorders. Identifying and reducing a pregnant woman's environmental exposures is not only beneficial to her offspring but also important to preserve her short- and long-term health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abee L. Boyles
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brandiese E. Beverly
- National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Suzanne E. Fenton
- National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chandra L. Jackson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Intramural Program, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anne Marie Z. Jukic
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Vicki L. Sutherland
- National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Donna D. Baird
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gwen W. Collman
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Darlene Dixon
- National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kelly K. Ferguson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Janet E. Hall
- Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Martin
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Postdoctoral Research Associate Training Program, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Thaddeus T. Schug
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexandra J. White
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kelly J. Chandler
- Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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12
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Winterbottom EF, Ban Y, Sun X, Capobianco AJ, Marsit CJ, Chen X, Wang L, Karagas MR, Robbins DJ. Transcriptome-wide analysis of changes in the fetal placenta associated with prenatal arsenic exposure in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. Environ Health 2019; 18:100. [PMID: 31752878 PMCID: PMC6868717 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-019-0535-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to arsenic, even at common environmental levels, adversely affects child health. These adverse effects include impaired fetal growth, which can carry serious health implications lifelong. However, the mechanisms by which arsenic affects fetal health and development remain unclear. METHODS We addressed this question using a group of 46 pregnant women selected from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS), a US cohort exposed to low-to-moderate arsenic levels in drinking water through the use of unregulated private wells. Prenatal arsenic exposure was assessed using maternal urine samples taken at mid-gestation. Samples of the fetal portion of the placenta were taken from the base of the umbilical cord insertion at the time of delivery, stored in RNAlater and frozen. We used RNA sequencing to analyze changes in global gene expression in the fetal placenta associated with in utero arsenic exposure, adjusting for maternal age. Gene set enrichment analysis and enrichment mapping were then used to identify biological processes represented by the differentially expressed genes. Since our previous analyses have identified considerable sex differences in placental gene expression associated with arsenic exposure, we analyzed male and female samples separately. RESULTS At FDR < 0.05, no genes were differentially expressed in female placenta, while 606 genes were differentially expressed in males. Genes showing the most significant associations with arsenic exposure in females were LEMD1 and UPK3B (fold changes 2.51 and 2.48), and in males, FIBIN and RANBP3L (fold changes 0.14 and 0.15). In gene set enrichment analyses, at FDR < 0.05, a total of 211 gene sets were enriched with differentially expressed genes in female placenta, and 154 in male placenta. In female but not male placenta, 103 of these gene sets were also associated with reduced birth weight. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal multiple biological functions in the fetal placenta that are potentially affected by increased arsenic exposure, a subset of which is sex-dependent. Further, our data suggest that in female infants, the mechanisms underlying the arsenic-induced reduction of birth weight may involve activation of stress response pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily F Winterbottom
- Molecular Oncology Program, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
| | - Yuguang Ban
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Xiaodian Sun
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Anthony J Capobianco
- Molecular Oncology Program, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Lily Wang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - David J Robbins
- Molecular Oncology Program, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) via drinking water represents a significant global public health threat with chronic exposure associated with cancer, skin lesions, neurological impairment, and cardiovascular diseases. Particularly susceptible populations include the developing fetus and young children. This review summarizes some of the critical studies of the long-term health effects and underlying biological mechanisms related to developmental exposure to arsenic. It also highlights the complex factors, such as the sex of the exposed individual, that contribute to susceptibility to the later life health effects of iAs. RECENT FINDINGS Studies in animal models, as well as human population-based studies, have established that prenatal and early life iAs exposures are associated with long-term effects, and many of these effects display sexually dimorphic responses. As an underlying molecular basis, recent epidemiologic and toxicologic studies have demonstrated that changes to the epigenome may play a key mechanistic role underlying many of the iAs-associated health outcomes. Developmental exposure to iAs results in early and later life health effects. Mechanisms underlying these outcomes are likely complex, and include disrupted key biological pathways with ties to the epigenome. This highlights the importance of continued research, particularly in animal models, to elucidate the important underpinnings (e.g., timing of exposure, metabolism, dose) of these complex health outcomes and to identify the biological mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in iAs-associated diseases. Future research should investigate preventative strategies for the protection from the detrimental health endpoints associated with early life exposure to iAs. Such strategies could include potential interventions focused on dietary supplementation for example the adoption of a folate-rich diet.
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Winterbottom EF, Moroishi Y, Halchenko Y, Armstrong DA, Beach PJ, Nguyen QP, Capobianco AJ, Ayad NG, Marsit CJ, Li Z, Karagas MR, Robbins DJ. Prenatal arsenic exposure alters the placental expression of multiple epigenetic regulators in a sex-dependent manner. Environ Health 2019; 18:18. [PMID: 30819207 PMCID: PMC6396530 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-019-0455-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to arsenic has been linked to a range of adverse health conditions in later life. Such fetal origins of disease are frequently the result of environmental effects on the epigenome, leading to long-term alterations in gene expression. Several studies have demonstrated effects of prenatal arsenic exposure on DNA methylation; however the impact of arsenic on the generation and decoding of post-translational histone modifications (PTHMs) is less well characterized, and has not been studied in the context of prenatal human exposures. METHODS In the current study, we examined the effect of exposure to low-to-moderate levels of arsenic in a US birth cohort, on the expression of 138 genes encoding key epigenetic regulators in the fetal portion of the placenta. Our candidate genes included readers, writers and erasers of PTHMs, and chromatin remodelers. RESULTS Arsenic exposure was associated with the expression of 27 of the 138 epigenetic genes analyzed. When the cohort was stratified by fetal sex, arsenic exposure was associated with the expression of 40 genes in male fetal placenta, and only 3 non-overlapping genes in female fetal placenta. In particular, we identified an inverse relationship between arsenic exposure and expression of the gene encoding the histone methyltransferase, PRDM6 (p < 0.001). Mutation of PRDM6 has been linked to the congenital heart defect, patent ductus arteriosus. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that prenatal arsenic exposure may have sex-specific effects on the fetal epigenome, which could plausibly contribute to its subsequent health impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily F. Winterbottom
- Molecular Oncology Program, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Yuka Moroishi
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Yuliya Halchenko
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - David A. Armstrong
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756 USA
| | - Paul J. Beach
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Quang P. Nguyen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Anthony J. Capobianco
- Molecular Oncology Program, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Nagi G. Ayad
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Zhigang Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Margaret R. Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - David J. Robbins
- Molecular Oncology Program, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
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Farzan SF, Howe CG, Zens MS, Palys T, Channon JY, Li Z, Chen Y, Karagas MR. Urine Arsenic and Arsenic Metabolites in U.S. Adults and Biomarkers of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Endothelial Dysfunction: A Cross-Sectional Study. Environ Health Perspect 2017; 125:127002. [PMID: 29373859 PMCID: PMC5963594 DOI: 10.1289/ehp2062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arsenic (As) exposure has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and with biomarkers of potential CVD risk and inflammatory processes. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of As on such biomarkers in U.S. populations, which are typically exposed to low to moderate As concentrations. OBJECTIVES We investigated associations between As exposures and biomarkers relevant to inflammation, oxidative stress, and CVD risk in a subset of participants from the New Hampshire Health Study, a population with low to moderate As exposure (n=418). METHODS Associations between toenail As, total urine As (uAs), and %uAs metabolites [monomethyl (%uMMAV), dimethyl (%uDMAV), and inorganic (%iAs) species] and plasma biomarkers, including soluble plasma vascular and cellular adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, respectively), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tumor necrosis factor-α, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and urinary oxidative stress marker 15-F2t-isoprostane (15-F2t-IsoP), were evaluated using linear regression models. RESULTS Covariate-adjusted estimates of associations with a doubling of urinary As suggested an 8.8% increase in 15-F2t-IsoP (95% CI: 3.2, 14.7), and a doubling of toenail As was associated with a 1.7% increase in VCAM-1 (95% CI: 0.2, 3.2). Additionally, a 5% increase in %uMMA was associated with a 7.9% increase in 15-F2t-IsoP (95% CI: 2.1, 14.1), and a 5% increase in %uDMA was associated with a 2.98% decrease in 15-F2t-IsoP [(95% CI: -6.1, 0.21); p=0.07]. However, in contrast with expectations, a doubling of toenail As was associated with a 2.3% decrease (95% CI: -4.3, -0.3) in MMP-9, and a 5% increase in %uMMA was associated with a 7.7% decrease (95% CI: -12.6, -2.5) in PAI-1. CONCLUSION In a cross-sectional study of U.S. adults, we observed some positive associations of uAs and toenail As concentrations with biomarkers potentially relevant to CVD pathogenesis and inflammation, and evidence of a higher capacity to metabolize inorganic As was negatively associated with a marker of oxidative stress. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2062.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michael S Zens
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Thomas Palys
- Center for Molecular Epidemiology at Dartmouth, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Jacqueline Y Channon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Zhigang Li
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
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Howe CG, Li Z, Zens MS, Palys T, Chen Y, Channon JY, Karagas MR, Farzan SF. Dietary B Vitamin Intake Is Associated with Lower Urinary Monomethyl Arsenic and Oxidative Stress Marker 15-F 2t-Isoprostane among New Hampshire Adults. J Nutr 2017; 147:2289-2296. [PMID: 29070711 PMCID: PMC5697960 DOI: 10.3945/jn.117.253419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Arsenic exposure has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Growing evidence suggests that B vitamins facilitate arsenic metabolism and may protect against arsenic toxicity. However, to our knowledge, few studies have evaluated this in US populations.Objective: Our objective was to examine whether higher B vitamin intake is associated with enhanced arsenic metabolism and lower concentrations of preclinical markers of CVD among New Hampshire adults.Methods: We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to evaluate the collective impact of 6 dietary B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, and vitamins B-6 and B-12) on 1) the proportion of arsenic metabolites in urine and 2) 6 CVD-related markers [including urinary 15-F2t-isoprostane (15-F2t-IsoP)] among 418 participants (26-75 y of age) from the New Hampshire Health Study. Contributions of arsenic metabolites to B vitamin-CVD marker associations were also explored in structural equation models.Results: In WQS models, the weighted sum of B vitamin intakes from food sources was inversely associated with the proportion of monomethyl arsenic species in urine (uMMA) (β: -1.03; 95% CI: -1.91, -0.15; P = 0.02). Thiamin and vitamins B-6 and B-12 contributed the most to this association, whereas riboflavin had a negligible effect. Higher overall B vitamin intake was also inversely associated with 15-F2t-IsoP (β: -0.21; 95% CI: -0.32, -0.11; P < 0.01), with equal contributions from the 6 B vitamins, which was partially explained by differences in the proportion of uMMA (indirect effect β: -0.01; 95% CI: -0.04, -0.00).Conclusions: Among New Hampshire adults, higher intakes of certain B vitamins (particularly thiamin and vitamins B-6 and B-12 from food sources) may reduce the proportion of uMMA, an intermediate of arsenic metabolism that has been associated with an increased risk of CVD. Higher overall B vitamin intake may also reduce urinary 15-F2t-IsoP, a marker of oxidative stress and potential risk factor for CVD, in part by reducing the proportion of uMMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA;
| | | | | | - Thomas Palys
- Center for Molecular Epidemiology, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH; and
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Jacqueline Y Channon
- Microbiology and Immunology, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, and
| | | | - Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Bommarito PA, Martin E, Smeester L, Palys T, Baker ER, Karagas MR, Fry RC. Fetal-sex dependent genomic responses in the circulating lymphocytes of arsenic-exposed pregnant women in New Hampshire. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 73:184-195. [PMID: 28793237 PMCID: PMC6130838 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) during pregnancy is associated with adverse health outcomes present both at birth and later in life. A biological mechanism may include epigenetic and genomic alterations in fetal genes involved in immune functioning. To investigate the role of the maternal immune response to in utero iAs exposure, we conducted an analysis of the expression of immune-related genes in pregnant women from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. A set of 31 genes was identified with altered expression in association with levels of urinary total arsenic, urinary iAs, urinary monomethylated arsenic and urinary dimethylated arsenic. Notably, maternal gene expression signatures differed when stratified on fetal sex, with a more robust inflammatory response observed in male pregnancies. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes were also related to birth outcomes. These findings highlight the sex-dependent nature of the maternal iAs-induced inflammatory response in relationship to fetal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige A Bommarito
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth Martin
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lisa Smeester
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Thomas Palys
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emily R Baker
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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